What Is A Milk Frother ?

One thing a lot of people look forward to when they go to a coffee shop is the tasty frothed milk that is usually served on the top of a coffee cup. This is possible because of a new technology that can instantly make your milky beverages at home or your workplace. Most milk frothers on the market are easy to use. Right now, there are different models of milk frother that you can choose from, some are handheld while others are motorized. While there are other devices that froth your milk and warm them at the same time.

In this article, we are going to provide all the essential information you need to be acquainted with regards to milk steamers and frothers.

What are a milk frother and steamer ?

A Milk frother can easily be described as a gadget that is used for making foamy milk that is usually found on top of most beverages in coffee shops. Each and every frother you will find on the market basically does the same thing; it rapidly aerates milk by introducing air into a milky beverage in a swift manner. This rapid process will ultimately make the volume of the milk to increase and its texture to become lighter and at the same time giving it a more refined and sweeter taste. The end result is a foamy mixture that sometimes limits the strong flavors in coffee and cappuccino.

Unlike milk steamers, milk frothers are not expensive or complicated to use. You can easily use the handheld milk frother in your kitchen to make foamy and delicious milk that you can add to your coffee or cappuccino.

Next, we are going to be looking at a milk steamer. Basically, a milk steamer is a gadget that pressurizes steam to create slightly foamy milk. The working process of a milk steamer leads to the breaking down of the fat in milk and as the milk is broken down it is stirred, which leads to the production of uniform bubble of air in the milk. This uniformity is scientifically known as a micro-foam.

Steam milk is loved by a lot of people because of its sweet and captivating taste which is unlike others you might have tasted. The only caveat with the milk steamer is that they are expensive and may require additional equipment like a thermometer and a pitcher.

What is the difference between a milk frother and a milk steamer ?

Obviously, you now know what a milk frother and a milk steamer is, as well as their working principle. Next, we are going to be looking at some differences between these two.

At a first glance, you might not be able to tell the difference between the milk toppings produced by a milk frother and a steamer. But if you peer deeper, you will find a couple of differences between these two.

For starter, milk steamer produces heavy, dense and foamy milk, while the milk frother produces light and foamy milk. The reason for this difference is due to the fact that the milk steaming process does not give room for a lot of air to be absorbed.

Milk frothing, on the other hand, produces a lighter foamy milk because a lot of air is trapped during the frothing process. Another difference between these two is the temperature of milk they accommodate. Cold milk is used when preparing a steamed milk, so as to prevent the milk from getting too hot. Most of the time it takes 20 to 60 seconds to steam the milk. When it comes to milk frothing cold milk can be used.

Why you should get a milk frother or steamer ?

Almost everybody loves a cup of warm coffee. Amazingly, frothed or steamed milk can take your coffee drinking experience to a whole new level. You see, you don’t have to wait until you get to a coffee shop to enjoy the foamy and delicious milk on top of your coffee drink. Getting a frother or a steamer will give you the opportunity for you and your loved ones to enjoy your favorite beverage even more.

Another reason why you should consider getting either a milk steamer or frother is due to the constant changes in time and seasons. In the summer you might find it easy and even exciting to go to your favorite coffee shop to get a cappuccino or other beverages you may love. But during the winter season, going outside your house to a coffee shop can be very daunting. So if you have a milk frother or steamer you will be able to enjoy your favorite beverage in the comfort of your home.

Lastly, you may never know when you are going to have a guest or a relative who loves coffee or cappuccino, so if you have these products, you will be able to forge a smile out of the faces of your guest.

Types of milk frothers and steamers

Milk steamer and frothers usually are of different shapes and sizes with amazing side features and capabilities. So, we are going to look at some types of milk frother and steamer you can find on the market.

1. The handheld milk frothers

A lot of people call this the milk frothing wand because of its shape. The handheld milk frothers are the easiest to use and they are often powered by a battery. They possess no steaming feature and they are best used when you need toppings for a few cups of coffee.

2. The manual milk frothers

If you need to prepare toppings for a couple of hot beverages like- cappuccino, coffee or latte. The kind of milk frother that will be suitable for this is the manual milk frother. This is obviously because they are wide and they have an elegant cylindrical pot and a cap with a pump. To use it, you first have to pour your desired amount of milk into it and place it on a heat source. Within a few minutes the milk will get hot, what you is a homogenized creamy and soft foam.

3. The electric milk frothers & steamer

This is a very sophisticated machine that steams and frothers milk simultaneously. They usually come in a range of sizes with amazing features. They can be used to steam milk within a matter of seconds. All you have to do is pour your desired quantity of milk into it and let it steam until you are satisfied. The electric steamer is a preferred option for those who want a perfect taste and a homogenized texture of their toppings. The only problem with the electrical steamer is that they cannot function without electricity. Apart from that, they are the best milk steamer you can find on the market.

What to consider when you choose these frother and steamer

Before you head out to the mall or visit an online shop to purchase a milk frother and steamer that catches your eyes, there are some important factors you must first consider.

1. Capacity

The capacity of a milk steamer or frother simply means the amount of frothed milk they can produce without any hindrance or issues. A lot of electric frothers on the market come with a large container that can hold comfortably two or three glass of milk at a time. Still, there are some on the market that can only hold one cup of milk at a time. So, before you make a purchase, consider your needs carefully.

2. Ease to use

It is best you go for a steaming and frothing machine that is easy to operate especially if you don’t have time to master the settings of some of the high tech milk frothing and steaming machine on the market. When you go for something simple you will hardly run into any complication when preparing toppings for your beverages.

3. Special features

As discussed earlier, the simplicity of a milk frothing machine is a very important factor to consider. But at the same time if you are a person who loves to try out new things or to experiment, then go for a milk frothing and steaming machine that posses some cool feature that can aid you in making different recipes.

4. Price

Price is also a very important thing to consider especially when you have a very limited budget. Of course, there are a lot of cheap and low-quality milk steamers on the market, so, endeavour to be on the lookout for these ones. And try to get one with a reasonable price and quality.